Tamperproof closure



Oct. 30, 1945.

D. H. TILSON TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 INVENTOR 120mm1171mm Patented Oct. 30, 1945 Donald H. Tilson, New Kenslngton,

Company of America, Pittsburgh,

to Aluminum Pa... assignor Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication January 8, 1942, Serial No. 426,005

needle may be inserted to withdraw portions of the contents of acontainer.

Yet another object is to provide a closure which is easy to removeentirely for emptying,

the contents of a container.

A further object is to provide a tamperprooi' closure which, because offractured or mutilated portions thereof, will immediately indicate anypartial opening or entire removal of the closure.

Prior to this invention, containers provided with closures through whicha needle might be inserted for withdrawal of the contents were known.Many such closures left exposed to direct contact with septic media thatsurface portion of the closure through which the needle passed. Othershad a protective foil covering which tended to dull the needle upon itsinsertion therethrough. Some were constructed so that the closure couldbe removed and later replaced in such a manner that it was impossible toimmediately detect use, dilution, contamination, or substitution of thecontents of the container.

Serums injected intravenously by means of a hypodermic needle are anexample of fluids which, because of their use, must be kept sterile. Itis important ,that the user of such fluids be able to determine whetherthe package he possesse's has been opened in any way, that is, whetherit is in the same uncontaminated, undisturbed, sterile condition as whenit left the packager. It is also important that he have ready access tothe iluid, i. e. that the closure be easy to open. If the contents areto be withdrawn by a hypodermic syringe, the method should be one thatwill not dull a needle, and one that will keep the contents free fromcontamination by entry of foreign substances during and betweenwithdrawals. For this purpose it is desirable to have a closure which bypartial removal permits a the withdrawal of fluid and yet effectivelycontinues to exclude septic media. In some cases the user might wish toempty the entire contents, and therefore it is desirable to have aclosure which is easy to remove entirely.

to provide a closure which is 'draw portions of 5 Claims. (Cl. 215-38)The closure of this invention permits no access to the interior of thecontainer without apparent irreparable and telltale damage to theclosure. The closure may be easil removed entirely or, upon choice, maybe removed only partially to expose a needle-penetrable portion. In thecase of partial removal of the closure, a needle may be inserted,without dulling the same, to withthe contents while the closure then andthereafter effectively excludes extraneous matter from the contentsremaining in the container. Reference to the drawing will make moreclear the objects of this invention as examplified in a preferredembodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the closure of theinvention, assembled with a container;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the closure and container shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the closure and upper part of thecontainer taken on the line. III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification ofthe closure;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing anothermodification of the closure.

Referring now to the drawing, the outer closure I! of permanentdeformation and ready tearing. Thin metal, preferably aluminum, issuitable. The closure I0 is cylindrical or cup-like in shape and isshown reformed into close contact with the finish or shoulder at theneck of bottle 9. The invention, however, is applicable to containerfinishes of varied shapes and contours, it being desirable that intimatecontact skirt of the closure and the finish tainer be attainable. I

From the top panel of the closure lo a tear-on tab II is partiallysevered within the rim l2, the latter being integrally connected withthe tearoff tab by bridges l3 and H. As shown in Fig. 1, the arcuateline of severance is discontinuedat the rear of the tab II to form a tabbase between the points I! and I6. Bridges l3 and ii are oppositelydisposed, preferably at angles greater than about 45 but less than 90,from a line perpendicularly bisecting the tab base as shown, forexample, in Fig. 1. This positioning facilitates their rupturing sincethe force transmitted to them upon lifting the tab ing force. When saidbridges are disposed less than about 45, their rupturing, while stillposbetween the may be made of any pliable material capable of the con- Iwill act chiefly as shearweakened lines I1 and IB, to the rear points I5and I6, which rovide an optional hinge for the tab. 1

The tab II is provided with a marginal bead adjacent to its line ofseverance and across the non-severedtabbase in order to strengthen thetab and protect the fingers of the user from thescored: v or; cut edgethereof when the tabis digitally gra'sped; For further longitudinalstrengthening of thetab I I there is provided an embossed rib 2Iextending from the front of the marginal bead ginal bead 20 at thetab-base.

and I4, there is provided a raised .lip' 22 in the": bea 120 (intowhich-the rib 2I mergesl'ith at per- 2n.,of the tab, along the diameterparalle to 'the f t,the front of he tab and betw.een the ridges fient toprovide groove 29 to prevent loss of the disc 25. Later, upon insertionof the liner 21,

groove 30 may be provided. Howeven'if inthe assembling of the closurecombination the .disc

mits the insertion of the fingernail of the-user or a'lever means, suchas a spatula or knife blade,

.. for lifting the tear-off tab I I. On the rim I2 im-- 'mediately infront of the raised lip 22 of tab II a score or cut I9 extends from apoint-adjacent to the line of severance of the tab to'the margin l ofthe rim I2.

' The skirt of the closure II] is provided with parallel cuts or scores23 leading from the top of the skirt part way down the same and wellwithin the area between the extended chord lines I1 and I8. Thisrelationship, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, creates a. furtheroptional hinge for the tab I I along the line of junction of the rim I2and the skirt. The cut or scored lines 23', as shown in Fig. 2, extendfrom the top of the skirt toshortly above the scored or fluted band 24.In the forms of closure shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the band 24 is notshown, and in its absence it is desirable to extend cut or scored lines23 to shortly above the bottom of the skirt. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and5 the scored or fluted band 24 should be located slightly above thebottom of the skirt and extended vertically upward about half the skirtlength.

The scored or fluted band 24, the cut or scored lines I9 and 23, theweakened lines I1 and I8, and

the partially severed top panel produce a frangible closure when thesame is made from pliable metal of customary thickness. A disc 25 may beused to reinforce the closure III at the upper portions thereof. It maybe located between the closure II] and a, liner or stopper, as shown inFigs, 3 through 6. This disc 25 is provided with an aperture 26 near itscenter under the tear-off tab II. A liner or stopper of a resilient,rubberlike, fluid-impervious substance, preferably having some degree ofself-sealing properties, may be located below the disc 25 fordisposition over the orifice of bottle 9. With this closure combinationit should be apparent that the contents of the bottle cannot be reachedwithout either removing the closure entirely or lifting the tear-off taband penetrating that portion of the liner or stopper accessible throughaperture 26 in disc 25. A flat disc liner 21 is shown in Figs. 3, 5 and6. A recessed stopper 28 is shown in Fig. 4. Either may be used, as isdesired.

Fig. 6 discloses anannular inwardly disposed groove 29 in the closureskirt which serves to retain the disc 25 against the rim I2. Also Fig. 6shows a similar inwardly disposed groove 30 in the and the liner '"areinserted at once, it is convenient to provide only groove 30 which willthen serve to retain both the discand the liner. a

i? The closure. combination maybe, either by sepl a arateor'coincidental disposition of the elements thereof, placed over. tie-container, It.is sealed container {such as bottle 9, and' thenffbumg.1: the lower portion of the skirt undentheshoulder :of the container. 7v i To open the container forl-the insertion hypodermicrleedle or thelike, it is necessary-only to. lift the tear-oif tab II, hinging thesame at either bridges I5, I6 or at the periphery'ofrim I2. This willexpose the penetrate liner or stopper accessible through the aperture inthe reinforcing disc. To do this it is necessary that the bridges I3 andI4 be broken. As above mentioned, bridges I5 and I6 may or may not bebroken, as desired. To remove the closure entirely from the container itis necessary only to lift the tear-off tab II and pull it downwardlyover the bottle neck. The bridges l3, I4, and I5 and IE will break awayand the metal will tear as guided by the scored or cut lines I1, I8 and23, and throughout scored band 24, thereby rupturing the skirt. When theskirt is spread out and away from the bottle, the

closure will break along the scoredor cut line I9 for easy removal.

The bridges I3 and-I4 serve as tamperproof means indicating whether ornot tab II has been lifted. The rib 2I prevents undetectable bending ofthe tab and facilitates severing of bridges I3 a d I4 when the end oftab II is lifted. The scored band 24 acts as a further-tamperproof meanssince any attempt to spread the lower skirt portion, which is reformedinwardly under the shoulder of bottle 9, will cause the skirt to splitalong the scored lines of band 24, making the closure incapable ofre-use. It should be apparent that any entry or attempted entry into theinterior of the bottle through the closure at any point will result insome obvious mutilation or tearing of the closure I0.

Several modifications of the invention have been described, and theappended claims should be read in the light thereof without beinglimited specifically thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure combination comprising a. sealing member adapted to bepierced readily by a needle, a rupturable outer closure and an aperturedreinforcing element, said outer closure having a top panel cut to form atab partially severed therefrom but integral therewith at rupturablebridges, said reinforcing element being disposed between said top paneland said sealing member, said tab having a marginal bead and alongitudinal rib merging into said bead intermediate a pair of saidbridges so located that the aperture in said reinforcing element can beexposed upon lifting of said tab only by rupturing one or more orreforriied by customary methods, one lawman; consists of pressingclosure. Ill, disc 25,,Iandi1 of said bridges, said tab and said sealingmember being thereby protected respectively from undetectable liftingand undetectable perforation.

2. A closure combination comprising a sealing member adapted to bepierced readily by a needle, a rupturable outer closure and an aperturedreinforcing element therebetween, said outer closure having a top panelcut to form a partially severed tab, a non-severed tab base, atab-surrounding rim, and rupturable bridges connecting said tab and rimdisposed at least one on each side of a line perpendicularly bisectingthe tab base and interrupting that portion of the line of tab severanceopposite the tab base, said tab having a marginal bead and a diametralrib merging into said bead intermediate a pairof said bridges so locatedthat the aperture in said reinforcing element can be exposed only byrupturing one or both of said pair of bridges, said tab and said sealingmember being thereby protected respectively from undetectable liftingand undetectable perforation.

3. A container-closure combination comprising a container having ashouldered orifice, a sealing member of a material adapted to be piercedreadily by a, needle and disposed in closing relationship to saidorifice, a rupturable outer closure over said sealing member secured tosaid container by a portion disposed under said shoulder and anapertured reinforcing element between said closure and said sealingmember, said closure having a top panel cut to form a partially severedtab, 9, non-severed tab base, a tab-surrounding rim, and rupturablebridges connecting said tab and rim disposed at least one on each sideof a line perpendicularly bisecting the tab base and interrupting thatportion of the line of tab severance opposite the tab base, said tabhaving a marginal bead and a diametral rib merging into said beadintermediate a pair of said bridges so located that the aperture in saidreinforcing element can be exposed only by rupturing one or both of saidpair of bridges, said tab and said sealing member being therebyprotected respectively from undetectable lifting and undetectableperforation.

4. A closure combination comprising a sealing member adapted to bepierced readily by a needle, 9. rupturable outer closure and anapertured reinforcing element, said outer closure having a skirt with arupturable band of fiuting near its lower edge and a top panel cut toform a tab partially severed therefrom but integral therewith atrupturable bridges, said reinforcing element being disposed between saidtop panel and said sealing member, said tab having a marginal bead and alongitudinal rib merging into said bead intermediate a pair of saidbridges so located that the aperture in said reinforcing element can beexposed upon lifting said tab only by rupturing one or more of saidbridges, said tab and said sealing member being thereby protectedrespectively from undetectable lifting and undetectable piercing.

5. A container-closure combination comprising a container having ashouldered orifice, a sealing member of a material adapted to be piercedreadily by a needle and disposed in closing relationship to saidorifice, a rupturable outer closure over said sealing member secured tosaid container by a portion disposed under said shoulder and anapertured reinforcing element between said closure and said sealingmember, said closure having a skirt with a weakened band near its loweredge and a top panel cut to form a partially severed tab, a non-severedtab base, a tab surrounding rim, and rupturable bridges connecting saidtab and rim disposed at least one on each side of a line perpendicularlybisecting the tab base and interrupting that portion of the line of tabseverance opposite the tab base, said tab having a marginal bead and adiametral rib merging into said bead intermediate a pair of said bridgesso located that the aperture in said reinforcing element can be exposedonly by rupturing one or both of said pair of bridges, said tab and saidsealing member being thereby protected respectively from undetectablelifting and undetectable piercing.

DONALD H. TILSON.

